Toey stormed up the steps of Hua Hin District Police Station, his temper simmering like a pot about to boil over. The moment he spotted the duty sergeant, the young secretary's voice rang out across the station.
"There's no red and white paint by that sidewalk! How could you possibly write me a ticket?" His words cracked like a whip. "Just because you saw it was a Honda Jazz, right? If I'd driven up in a big-license Benz, you wouldn't have dared touch me with a citation."
"Hey now, sir." The baby-faced duty sergeant straightened up. "Don't look down on us officers. Even if you drove a Benz, I'd still write the ticket."
Oh really? Let's see about that. Maybe I should bring Teeradon's S-Class 500 with license plate SS 777 next time. Park it right at the corner by the station entrance...
"Who wrote this ticket anyway? Can't even read the handwriting. Go call him over so we can talk." Toey's voice turned sharp, his anger making him see elephants as mice.
"Hey, the detective wrote it himself!" The duty sergeant snatched the citation from the scowling young man's hands. "Detective's not back yet. You can wait, or pay the fine right now."
"I'm not paying. I didn't park illegally anywhere. How can you do this? This is misconduct!" The young secretary, who'd fled Bangkok's stress for some seaside relaxation, gesticulated wildly, hands on his hips, eyes blazing at the duty sergeant, whose voice had grown softer.
"We call this—performing his duty, sir."
"Call that cop who wrote this ridiculous ticket right now. I'm going to the spa—I don't have time to wait around here." Toey felt his ears burning, as if flames might shoot out any second.
"No need to call him. No need to wait anymore." The duty sergeant smiled, looking past the hot-blooded citizen toward the back.
Toey whipped around, raising his eyebrows in surprise when he saw someone standing with arms crossed, head tilted, watching him with amused eyes.
"You're really something, aren't you? Not afraid the police will throw you in jail?"
"If I were scared, I wouldn't have barged in here." Toey's voice remained hard. "Are you the sergeant who wrote this illegible ticket?"
"Major, sir. Don't go demoting me like that." The officer replied with a grin.
"Ah, big enough rank to write tickets for anyone you want, then. I didn't park illegally..."
"Right at the corner intersection. Not a traffic violation, but it breaks the law." The young detective interjected.
"The sidewalk's painted pink and white, right? So you wrote me a ticket." Toey's voice dripped sarcasm.
"It used to be red and white. Years of rain washed it out until you can barely see it." The officer shrugged. "But look, for the sake of our having gotten drunk together and knowing each other for one night, I'll cancel the fine."
"How generous of you." Toey grabbed the citation from the desk and tore it up. The duty sergeant looked up in disbelief, about to protest, but the detective who'd written the ticket raised his hand to stop him, then touched the sweet-faced young man's arm—whose mood was the opposite of his appearance—guiding him away from the sergeant's desk before saying, "Tearing up a citation is illegal, you know."
"Go ahead and arrest me then. I'm free right now. Put me in a cell for an hour to cool off—might cure my bad mood." Toey's voice cracked like thunder as he turned his back, about to walk down from the station.
"Wait up there. How about we go drink and get in a better mood? I'm just getting off duty."
"I'm going to the spa." Toey turned back with a short reply, shrugged, and walked down the steps, dismissing Teeradon's dark-faced detective friend.
Player. Why does I only meet players? Everywhere I go, nothing but unfaithful hearts. When will I find someone who love with a single, devoted heart?
Unfaithful hearts... but wait, talking about others having wandering hearts—what about himself? Why am I thinking about two people at the same time right now? This is crazy...
Toey sighed. "So?"
"So what?"
"Drinks and then whatever you want to um…"
"I thought you said you're a straight." Toey smirked.
"I don't remember. That night I was drunk, but today I'm not…yet" Major Nares shrugged.
"So, when you are drunk, you're not straight."
"Oh com'on. Don't frame a tiny square around people like that."
"Then, let's set boundaries and see if you're seriously want to do something about it," Toey looked into the sharp eyes of the man he used to have a one night stand with when helping his former boss, Teeradon, trying to catch the mouse named Wittawin. "Two months. That's all I want. And don't forget I'm living and working in Bangkok while your are here."
"Three?"
"What a negotiator." Toey rolled his eyes.
"We just met once." Nares shrugged.
"Answer me after our drink, then." Toey sighed and walked away. Nares shook his head and followed.
This is a tough situation for a player like him. Should he try? Well, lately life for him had been so boring. Men, women—all bland. But this person in front of him was just like fire.
Let's play with fire a bit.
***